Pain-alleviating orthopaedic appliance

Abstract

An orthopaedic appliance includes a body, a protrusion extending inwardly from the body, positioned on the body to apply pressure on a proximal portion of the soleus muscle, and means for applying pressure to the protrusion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 052,688, filed May 13, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to orthopaedic appliances such as braces. Particularly, the present invention is directed to an orthopaedic appliance that reduces pain by reducing tension on an affected nerve.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0003]A variety of orthopaedic appliances, such as braces (orthoses), are known in the art for providing support, protection, and / or stability to various joints of the body. Braces of varying sizes and shape are available for joints including the wrists, knees, ankles, and others. Many braces serve to stabilize a joint, to allow it to heal, while some braces are configured for load sharing across a joint to reduce the load on the joint to facilitate healing.[0004]Applicant recognizes that a common complaint o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It should be appreciated by the reader that the term “brace” can be applied to devices in accordance with the invention. It should be understood, however that devices constructed in accordance with the invention may partially stabilize the knee joint, as will be discussed in more detail below, but are most effective in reducing spasming of the soleus muscle, which thereby reduces the symptoms caused by that spasming.

[0020]The protrusion can include a resilient portion, and provided on an inward-facing portion of the orthopaedic appliance. The protrusion is, in preferred embodiments, smoothly contoured so as to reduce potential for causing trauma to the patient. The protrusion can include a rigid portion on the outer side thereof for providing a stable backing to exert even pressure to the soleus muscle near its origin at the fibula.

[0025]The body of the appliance can be dimensioned such that this position of the protrusion falls off-center with respect to the height of the appliance. That is, the size and quantity of material can be minimized by reducing the size of the appliance, particularly the portion of the body that extends downward from the protrusion.

Problems solved by technology

However, lumbar braces available today are large, focus on relaxing the paraspinal muscles, and are difficult to hide under everyday clothing.

Accordingly, this increased neural tension often produces symptoms of lower back and / or buttock pain.

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